35 Sqn Halifax TL-P RAF Gravely

MartinHall , Flt Sgt Michael O’Donovan Fuller is my grandad . He was the wireless op on W7825.

nige65 my father was the pilot of W7825

These aircraft carried TL-P codes when lost.
Halifax 35 W7825 TL-P Dusseldorf
Lancaster 35 PB197 TL-P Wanne-Eickel
Halifax 35 W7656 TL-P Tirpitz
Halifax 35 HR907 TL-P Hannover
Halifax 35 L9603 TL-P Rover Patrol
Halifax 35 L9503 TL-P Hamburg
Halifax 35 W1015 TL-P Tirpitz
Halifax 35 W7676 TL-P Nuremburg
Halifax 35 HR803 TL-P Hamburg
Lancaster 35 PB612 TL-P Cologne
Obviously, there may have been others wearing that code before being recoded as another letter or transferred out for repair, maintenance or to other Squadrons etc.

Halifax TL-P 35 Sqn

My Great-Uncle F/Sgt Michael O’Donovan Fuller W/Op and A/Gnr was on this aircraft when it was lost over Dusseldorf, on this particular sortie he was the W/Op, aircraft lost on 25/05/1943.

W7676 was flown by my friend Reg Lane, while on 35 sqdn.
Up to the time of it’s loss they had done 12+ ops in it.
They were on leave when a “sprog” crew (Sgt. John) was lost with the a/c.
I doubt that your father knew P/O Lane & crew, as Linzee mentioned, the sqdn. would have been @ Graveley for only a short while & this kite did most of it’s trips from Linton?
W7676 is probably the most photographed Mk.2, as Reg & crew did an extensive colour in flight photo shoot with it.
Most books on the Halifax display these colour photos.
My late friend, F/L Jim Scannell, flew in W7676 in June,42.
Another 35 sqdn friend, F/L Tom Lane (“The Other Lane”, as he was known on 35 sqdn!!), also piloted it on an air test in 42.

Cheers!
Paul G.

TL-P

Thanks for all the info , I will speak with pater in law and pin down the dates to see if I can identify the correct serial, and will run names by him to see if he can remember anyone.

Many Thanks for your assistance,

Butler01

Hi,

Believed to be W1015 going on the dates he mentioned, I will speak with him to see if he remembers any names, he has a razor sharp memory for that time with aircraft etc.

Thanks for reply

Butker01

I don’t think it will be W1015 Butler as she was lost on the night of 30/31 March 1942 in Norway with all onboard killed. 35 Squadron were based at Linton-on-Ouse at that time (although operated from Kinloss on the op that W1015 was lost). 35 Squadron didn’t move to Gravely until August 1942 so your TL-P is going to be one of the ones after W1015.

Will try and attach a photograph of W7676 TL-P which replaced W1015 TL-P. The text on the photograph states that W7676 replaced W7656 lost on Tirpitz ops in April 1942. That’s correct, I had forgotten that a TL-P was lost on the April op against Tirpitz as well as the March one.

Since W7676 was lost 28/29 August 1942 it may even have been a later TL-P that you are looking for. Don’t know if I’ve got a note of which one replaced W7676 but can check my files if you like.

Crew lost on W7676 TL-P were Sgt D A V John, Sgt M W Booth, P/O A F Birley, Sgt K A Higgs, Sgt A Priestley, Sgt A E Groundsell and Sgt G A Doman.

Regards
Linzeee

TL-P

Thanks for the info on the memorial window we will go check it out,

Butler01

Butler01

Slightly off topic, I took a trip over to Gravely last Summer and gained access to Offord Cluny church, where there is a memorial window.

I posted it here (below) at the time…

http://forum.planetalk.net/viewtopic.php?t=1611&highlight=gravely

Cheers
Andy

TL-P

Hi,

Believed to be W1015 going on the dates he mentioned, I will speak with him to see if he remembers any names, he has a razor sharp memory for that time with aircraft etc.

Thanks for reply

Butker01

Hi, There are plenty of photographs of a 35 Sqdn with the TL-P going around in various books and I expect online too. Do you happen to know the serial number? I have some pics (black and white) of W7676 TL-P which I believe replaced W1015 TL-P which was lost in March 1942.

Does your father-in-law happen to remember the names of the crew?

Regards
Linzee